5 The Best Belay Devices

My name is Justin Roth and I’m with Petzl. The Grigri – is a great choice for whether your top roping or your lead, climbing in the gym or at the crags. The assistant braking function, makes a lot of the functions of belaying much much more pleasant to perform. We’re almost to 25 years. Since the original gris-gris was launched by far the best-known most visible belay device that that we have made the difference in weight and size is the Grigri ii model is smaller and 20% lighter than the original gris-gris.

A wider range of ropes, including going to a much smaller diameter than the original gris-gris, did down to 8 9, it’s more in keeping with the types of ropes that people are using today and with a new handle, lowering mechanism that makes it easier to gradually release the rope and make a really smooth lower. It’s a more pleasant kind of all-around belaying experience, in my opinion, for the majority of users that are looking to get their first or second belay device to be fair.

If your goal is to do a lot of multi-pitch climbing, this probably shouldn’t be your first blade of ice, slash only belay device, because you can’t do a double rope rappel. But if your goal is to do you know, cracking gym climbing what most people do I think the Grigri is an ideal first or second belay device. It handles like the tube style devices that that most people get as their first. It uses the same kind of hand technique for the majority of its operation.

So you don’t have to learn a new way if you switch from one device to the other. But of course it offers the assistive braking function, which means that when you’re controlling the brake hand and your climber Falls, the device is going to help you hold that fall. So you don’t have to you know, have an iron grip on the rope. You’re not going to get is much chance of slippage and it just backs you up and then, when the climber is hanging, it allows you to hold them without exerting much physical effort.

The device is going to help you when used properly, but is not a replacement for proper playing techniques, so you really just have to treat it like. You would a device that doesn’t have that braking assist at all times and then that assist is is extra and it’s nice and it makes it a more pleasant and enjoyable experience, especially if you’re using a really thin rope. When you have a standard belay device like a tube style device and you take a big fall you’re going to feel that rope really want to move through the device, because there’s less friction between a thin rope and the belay device, and the Grigri just allows you to more commandingly lock that fall off through the rotating cam mechanism and then as well.

Holding the weight of a climber doesn’t require constant effort. You simply control the break with your hand, but the Grigri itself is going to be holding that weight for you. You.

And owner of Stone adventures, rock climbing guides out in Joshua Tree today we’re going to be doing a gear review of some of the new assisted braking belay devices. Let’s go check it out. Today’s gear review is gonna focus on the mad Rock lifeguard, the Petzl Grigri plus, and the Petzl Grigri -, two other belay devices in this category are the Virgo by trango, and the mattock by camp I did not have either of those available for the review.

Today, the Virgo has had two recalls and triangles really struggling to get that one out and the camp Matic is over two hundred dollars, so I didn’t get one. Mad Rach was kind enough to loan me this perhaps permanently and gris-gris. Excuse me: Petzl sent me the Grigri plus and a nice locking carabiner with it for free, so kudos to both of those companies for participating in this gear review the Petzl Grigri -. This has been my belay device for about two years.

I haven’t been using it half of the time or so so. I have some serious miles on this device. Okay, you will notice that the blue aluminum plate is getting worn out right there, and you can also see some a little bit of an indentation on the actual steel, cam and I’m, not sure if you can see it here, but there is right there on that piece of steel plate a little bit of we’re showing, but this gris-gris has been used for a long time. Yeah, it’s pretty good.

The arm is some kind of nylon plastic, but the one thing to note is that when your cam engages it’s possible for the rope to come under the brake arm and then it gets totally stuck. That’s one big flaw. Design flaw on the Petzl Grigri – Petzl Grigri – is about a hundred bucks, so it’s a $10 more than the lifeguard $50 less than the Grigri plus, and definitely lighter than the Grigri plus here’s, the Petzl Grigri plus notice, right away that on the orange aluminum plate they have a steel insert where the break strand runs and opening it up.

That’s a big steel insert there that really increases the life span of this piece of the Grigri I’ve had miles of rope come through here and not even a ding. Yet on that steel insert so that’s a big win great job by Petzl and not too much where here this piece of steel here the actual cam seems to be a different steel alloy from the Grigri too, and I’m not sure if it’s stronger or not I have less wear and tear. But there’s there’s been less miles of rope through this device.

Let’s open her up. Okay, Petzl designed this curve and the width and all their calculations on the cam are phenomenal. It is so easy to pull the rope through here when you’re belaying, it’s like a dream, even on thicker ropes. It comes through here, smoother than any other device I’ve ever used. They knew about the problem from the Grigri – and they’ve, addressed it by putting this tab here so that the break strand of rope cannot come under the brake arm.

That’s never happened to me with the Grigri to another gizmo that they have is. You can be in top rope mode or LEED mode, and what that does? Is you flip this dial and it’s either winding or unwinding the spring, so putting less tension or more tension on the spring that lets the arm come up, so the cam is going to engage, easier or less easy, depending on, if your lead, climbing or if your top roping I leave mine and top rope mode all the time and I even do my lead, belay and top rope mode.

It doesn’t bother me so I’m just living in top rope modes, I like the the spring-loaded action just to be really easy, so it just puts the brake on straightaway. It makes you feel really good when you’re on top rope palay and when you’re doing rope, ascension or self belay. You just feel really secure like it’s. The Grigri pluses just got you even if you’re hands-free, what you shouldn’t ever be. You should have some sort of a backup but looks a very secure feeling with the Grigri Plus last function.

To mention is it does have the anti panic arm which you’ll see in the lab, how that works. I, do not think that is a good feature personally and we’ll talk about that. More later, here is the mad Rock lifeguard. It is much smaller than the other devices than the Grigri s–. It’s all metal, which is nice. The arm is metal here, let’s open her up, you’ll notice, the bottom is cut out, probably do save weight and materials see this tab here.

That will prevent the rope from coming behind the arm, which was a problem with the Grigri too, and so they’ve addressed that you’ll notice that the width here of the actual cam is much smaller. So, in my opinion, that’s why it’s harder to pull the rope through and you do get more tired belaying if you’re gonna, belay people all day, you’re going to be noticeably more tired at the end of the day. Okay, so here we go these pieces. The silver pieces here are all steel, but the red piece here and on the other side are aluminum and you’ll notice.

Right there, it’s worn out and I did that, literally in a half day of guiding one half day of guiding and I’ve put a serious, wear and tear on this device, because that’s right, where the break strand of rope slides through the device so I do not think this flimsy red plate is going to hold up for very long at all. It is the smallest lightest and cheapest device in this review. Now that you’ve seen the inside working parts on these three devices, let’s head into the lab and test them out.

So here’s an interesting test. We hooked up all of our belay devices here, Guri Guri, plus gris-gris – Gregory, one original and the mad Rock lifeguard. We hooked them all up on the exact same climbing rope in a top managed top rope, belay setup and since they’re all set up on the same anchor, we can kind of grab the ropes and we can pull them through. So the Grigri plus is really smooth. Even on this thick nine nine point, eight millimeter gris-gris tune smooth, but not as good as the Grigri plus the original Gregory one nice and smooth almost does give us the Grigri plus and here’s the man rock lifeguard bad rock lifeguards, fairly easy to move the rope through I’d say the easiest of to belay with is the Grigri plus, then the Grigri one, then the Grigri two and the worst one would be the mad Rock lifeguard, although they’re not too different.

So let’s pull down on the load strand and see how quickly the brake engages so with the Grigri -, it’s engaging very, very quickly and easily. So when you’re bullying, someone from the top, you can feel really secure that the greeneries got him and the ropes not gonna slip through the Grigri – yeah. We can get the rope to slip before it engages so you’d have to be a lot more. On top of the break strand, while you’re playing someone original gris-gris yeah, some rope comes through a little bit better than the Grigri -, but the Grigri plus by far, is the best tub out the Med Rock lifeguard Oh lots of rope comes through the mat, Rock lifeguard.

The break doesn’t want to engage in this manner even with a thick rope. So it would be even worse if it was on the skinny rope. So right now the Grigri plus wins this test for ease of pulling the rope through a very easy belay and also really quick to engage the assisted braking. So you can feel really secure as well. We’re gonna run this quick little test, one more time with my skinniest rope. Eight point: seven millimeter, all right start with degree.

Great plus rope feeds through almost effortlessly when you’re belaying and if someone were to fall but still engages straight away, no slippage at all. Even on this really skinny eight point: seven millimeter, Mamet rope, that’s awesome from a top managed belay. The Grigri plus is kicking butt. The Grigri -. This is the guy I’ve been using for the last year or two for my multi-pitch routes. So I’ve used this in this configuration many times and it works pretty smooth the rope feeds through pretty smoothly on this rope.

It’s real skinny, but we definitely get some slippage on the break. Here’s the original three three one now this thing was definitely not designed for ropes that were the skinny, not even close, but let’s see how it works anyway, feeds in very easily yeah. The break doesn’t want to engage quite as much yep as expected. That’s an old design when ropes were thicker. Here’s the mad Rock lifeguard, notably harder to feed the Rope through when belaying on the mad Rock lifeguard, although it’s still not too bad overall we’re getting a lot of slippage.

A lot of slippage before the brake engages I would be a look. I would be hesitant to use the the Matt Rock lifeguard on my skinny rope and atop valet. That’s how how bad it is not catching as compared to the Grigri plus this most gentle of pulls and gate, engages that brake gris-gris plus big winner from a top manage stance without a hand on the brake, engaging on a nine point. Eight millimeter, dynamic rope. Let’s see even Oh, a slow tug will it’ll still feed through really slow.

If we do it fast, tug, yeah, medium, fast, tug and engages, but it it comes off pretty easily here’s a nine point, two millimeter dynamic rope, a fast tug will engage it a slow pull that comes through that engages pretty well. On the nine point, two millimeter: here’s, the mad Rock lifeguard on an eight point: seven millimeter single, dynamic rope, the mammoth serenity you can see it just pulls right through the device. Slowly, a sharp tug does engage, but the brake comes off quite easily a little bit fast.

A little bit scary you’d have to be very on top of the brake hand and not be relying on it to really catch. On the eight point, seven millimeter, Petzl, Grigri, plus with a nine point, eight millimeter, dynamic rope, engages immediately very very little slippage there and I cannot get the rope to come through at all Petzl Grigri, plus on nine point. Two millimeter engages straightaway pretty much cannot get the rope to slip. Here’s the Grigri plus, on the eight point, seven millimeter, the Grigri plus engages straightaway even on a very gentle pull.

You can see the arm coming up. If you have a very skinny rope, you can feel really secure that it’s going to catch on the the Petzl Grigri plus I got these three belay devices at the beginning of the summer and I shot most of that lab footage, and also at the beginning of the summer, before I, had put a lot of miles on the devices. Now it’s October, so I’ve had a few months to play with the devices and literally run miles of rope through the devices.

So I do have some final thoughts. My hands down favorite device of these three or any belay device that I’ve ever used is the Petzl Grigri plus it’s just so so smooth belaying people, it’s almost effortless the Rope just slides through there. The brake engages straightaway makes it really easy to blend to hold people and gives you a really secure feeling when the brake engages that that it’s doing its job, not that you should ever let go of the brake strand with your hand, but with the the Petzl Grigri plus, you really feel like the the device is doing all the work for you.

The Petzl Grigri – a little bit lighter a little bit older, designed not quite as smooth but still a good pencil product. Pencil just goes above and beyond in terms of designing quality devices that really just feel well made, and they work perfectly they’re solid. They feel like they’re gonna last forever. Now the mad Rock lifeguard definitely has a cheaper flimsier feeling. Also the the cam does not like to engage. In my opinion, they’ve wound up the spring too tight and if they loosen that spring and the cam or to engage more easily like the Grigri plus, does I’d feel a lot safer with it.

I have used the mad ROC lifeguard only for 1/2 day of guiding I used it for a half day of guiding with one of our stiffest and fattest ropes, and it worked ok, but I was noticeably more tired at the end of the day after belaying with it’s hard to pull the ropes through and lowering people is tough. One thing to note is that the arm does not come back very far. So when you go to lower someone, it’s at a funny angle and it kind of hurts your fingers when you pull back to lower someone.

But the biggest problem I had was that, after the first half day of guiding, I went to use it on a second day of guiding with a different rope, which was a little bit skinnier and also really stiff rope and the the cam did not want to engage and I actually got so scared. That I asked the climber to come down and I switch devices, because I was that worried about the device not working so I’ve had a big problem with the mad Rock lifeguard and I have not put a full mile, I’d, say: I’ve put about a quarter mile pulled about a quarter mile of rope through this device and it’s showing some serious signs of wear and tear after only a half day.

So unfortunately, this one is going to come off my rack and be just a spare belay device and to be fair I should I should play with it a little bit more. The Grigri – I have had for about 2 years now, I’ve put serious miles on it. Literally miles and miles of rope has traveled through this device. It’s definitely showing some wear and tear, but I think that’s to be expected and within range, because this blue plate here is aluminum, and so it wears out quicker the brake rubs over here and it gouges it out pretty quick.

We have a lot of coarse sand and Joshua tree and the course and sticks -. The Rope runs through the device, mainly when you’re lowering people and really wears it out quickly. But you know I’ve really put a lot of miles on this thing and even the steel pieces are start we’re out and that’s why we’ve had to retire our original Gregory’s, that’s just how it goes. I I think that they do last quite a long time, but we really put a lot of miles and a lot of abuse on to our gris-gris SS guides and Joshua.

Tree I have also put miles literally a rope through this gris-gris plus and at first I thought. It was wonderful device and it is a wonderful device. It’s my favorite one, it’s just so easy to belay, but the anti-panic arm really is a pain because I feel like it engages a lot and my initial thoughts, especially in the lab I mentioned that it’s engaging and it does on thicker ropes. It really engages and it’s a pain in the butt to lower people and at first I was really bummed about that.

But after using it for the whole summer and putting more and more and more miles on and I’ve gotten accustomed to kind of how the anti-panic arm works and when it’s going to engage and when it doesn’t and on my all the different ropes that we own as a company and I’ve sort of learned to work around it, I still wish that the Grigri Plus was sold without the hand tie panic arm I, don’t like the function personally for myself as a guide. I am an experienced user.

Obviously, but I wish that they were to make a gris-gris Pro, which would be the exact same as the Grigri plus minus the anti panic arm and that probably shave off a few grams -. So my hands down winter Grigri plus is now my go-to everyday belay device. I, take it for single pitch top roping lead, follow and I even take it up. Multi pitches I like it that much thanks so much for watching my gear review. I hope it helps you out. Let me know in the comments down below what you think if you’ve got the same opinion of my idea or some different opinions, if you’ve noticed anything different or if you have a different belay device that you think we should do a review on be very curious to hear your thoughts.

Please hit the like button. If you liked this video or if it helps you out and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel we’re going to be doing weekly video updates. Alright, thanks for watching.

The big death row in Leeds finished in workshop there yawns, the let you borrow all of those three things: Isis we’re with Josh is gonna, be leading to the the workshop today. So tell us about the Russian war lost the idea behind it and how did it yeah yeah, so basically we’re looking at assisted, break and divisive today, but in a bit more detail, they’re becoming more and more common use in the walls, so we’re pretty keen to make sure that people learn how to use them correctly.

A lot of the issues we tend to find some people feeling badly with Gregory’s so be. That’s rather is just tell people all the time give them that instruction from the word go and it’s going to be casual since it never actually charge. People come in to have a go to decide the life kit offices we sell them here, sit by if they want or choose not to, but then, if how’d it go in there at least they know event and it had to go with one of us to give us a bit an idea, great option.

Gianni, it’s really cool the cool to be you guys to put put this on and I think it’s sending, the mortals should be doing say, excited to see how it all works out. Yes, am I right it’s a good give it again. Basically, it’s a little bit of like a try before you buy example. So have a go. Rick is looking about as well. Some more people turn up, but if you want to try a certain device, it yourself have a play with it, get a feel for it.

I’ll help you with it. You know that Chopin wrote the lead and then, if you decide you do want to get one, we are going to set that 20% off you’ll be back today from us. Wait yourself here thumb comes over to trap the ham which allows you then a handful free who’s on the dead road yeah. You can pull a load through another load through traffic.

Big pull through the top hand good and then that faster, the clip in because we’re both instructors, we’re quite hot on belaying and people doing it right and trying to meet feeling as safe as possible. There’s a definite trend towards assisted belay devices. Now, there’s a lot of countries now we’ll requirement people climbing indoors to only belay using assisted belay devices.

You said the assisted breathing devices really helped snaps to the plummet in terms of accident, ordered those short out about it. They’re just you know letting people borrow them and then they’re there just to give people some tips and pointers, because in the end they want people to be as good a feeler as they can be really I. Think there’s a lot of people which have been playing me for quite a while, who perhaps have always wondered how these different vino devices work, and this is a fantastic opportunity- people to try out all the different belay devices see which one they like best and get some free instruction on how to actually use and different versions.

One of the ones we’ve been really interested in because we haven’t gotten to use it before is we got it like so well, they’ve got a few different types and we’re gonna we’re gonna work our way through them and see what we think of them as well, because some of them will use alright some of them. We can’t force it already. So he’s Gregory’s and I think first up we’re gonna, try out the megajoule.

Isn’t it neat Eldred joy too, welcome to the jewel one today all right who’s jumping off, though it’s let’s give a game. Okay, take some folks say we cram Dakar, always been on the workshop today. Really good, really good, yeah I think it’s suddenly, because if you is to just get a device yourself and give it go, you’ve, gotta kind of get on YouTube girl, or something like that.

So it’s worth having someone there actually showing you what to do yeah they do you ever use assisted, no, not really I mean I’ve, seen one before when I did like a little little testicle and but I’m not really used it properly. So it’s got to use it today, yeah, okay! Is it something we should be worried? The future yeah, probably yeah I, think it’ll take a little bit of practice just to get used to it.

So I’m saying I’m not using far and but yeah probably would get on. Yeah obvious is pretty successful. They have had quit a few people interested in different devices, so it’s nice to give them a test it yeah I saw quite you know there were a few people to slow it and then seem like normal people flatly like shiny toy. No definitely I think you know start with people like you, particularly to come out in particular, so once I learn how to use a Gregory.

So thanks for being the time that people wants to see, what’s going on, give chance today with all the different devices that are available, yeah yeah, given I suspect we speak to a few, a few, the people in the workshop, and they seem to be loving it and having the opportunities, player and different feeling, voices and start to say, I. Think I think it’s been a good thing to the done and like they will do a few more of them in the future, give people more opportunities to learn over time and, like I, said earlier, I think you know they’re, hopefully nice if some of the walls are doing it as well, but encourage a bit more of these devices to be as quietly yeah, so they I mean I, think it is the future.

These assistive breaking devices and yeah I. Don’t think we need to be upstaged we’re with for some people to use them quite yeah, but more. We can encourage people. Energy people about them is nothing, but everything. Are you? Okay, oh yeah, yeah great! Well, thank you! So much not buying this long, yeah, it’s good to film it all and see you would see out for work.

Yeah do love with a loom in the future yeah thanks.

For all climbers, the grigri end is a indoors and outdoors designed for all climbers rope. Compatibility can be used on all single ropes, 8 5 to 11 millimeters in diameter and optimized for 8 9 to 10, 5, millimeters, diameters, lightweight and long-lasting great durability for intensive use. Thanks to the stainless steel wear plate weighs only 200 grams, don’t panic features an anti-panic handle if the user pulls too hard on the handle, the anti-panic function breaks and stops the descent choose your belay mode top rope or lead thanks to the selection knob, the top rope fillet mode facilitates taking up slack and makes for a more comfortable belay in the description to get this product today, at the best price for all climbers, the grigri end is a belay device with assisted braking for indoors and outdoors designed for all climbers rope.

Compatibility can be used on all single ropes, 8 5 to 11 millimeters in diameter and optimized for 8 9 to 10 5 millimeter.

I’m Kolin Powick here at Black, Diamond and I’m, the Category Director- and this is the all new ATC Pilot belay device. This is a super cool new style of belay device for Black Diamond It’s really hard to talk about this thing;. There are certain words you’re, not supposed to say, like “locking” and that kinda thing In Europe they’re, calling this kind of belay device a semi-automatic, tuber So.

This is a single rope tuber like an ATC, but it’s got enhanced. Braking We’ve been working on it for about 18 months. This display here shows some of the iterations of how we got to the end point. Starting with this idea. Years ago, Black Diamond worked on basically grooving out an ATC; that was many many years ago, and then we kinda re-started up this idea. The goal was for single rope use from the gym climber to sport.

Climber. Obviously, you can’t really rappel with it -. You can rappel with it with one rope –, but it’s fairly limiting So. It’s really a single pitch kind of device. It gives you more security than a standard, tuber It’s, really just two pieces. There’s a 17-4 metal injection, molded stainless steel part which has really good, wear characteristics. And then a Grilamid® which is 20%, filled, glass, nylon, super durable, We, literally freeze these things and smash them on the ground and try to break them, but durability.

Wise, it’s very durable, It’s, very simple This is good for 8 7 mm -, 10, 5 mm ropes, Every carabiner-rope combination is going to give you a little bit different, holding force We recommend using an HMS carabiner-. You gotta have a big enough space to this can rotate around you wouldn’t want to use a little locker or it actually wouldn’t work that well. It takes about a pitch to really kinda figure out how smooth it is.

And, it’s very secure, controlled, lowering Should. We check it. Out? Let’s check it out. Come’on follow me! So. The way it works. The rope is getting pinched in this V-groove by the carabiner So. You have your hand on the brake-rope and to lower a climber. You just rotate it If. You lift this all the way up off. Then it’s very on/off like an on/off button And. If you do that and still have your hand on the brake rope, you can lower somebody no problem like that But, that’s not the way to do it and that’s not the point of it.

The idea is for nice smooth, controlled lowering: hand on the brake rope and you just rotate it and it lowers (this weight. Isn’t too heavy of course) And? Then you know. So that’s how you rotate it So the reason that you couldn’t use like a little Positron or a biner too small. It might not have room to rotate Right and if it doesn’t rotate, then you can’t lower the person. To top-rope, belay you’re, pulling in rope like this *Boom* hand, is always on the brake-rope.

Climber is going up you’re pulling in rope And, then to lower the climber just rotating it again. One of the beauties of this thing for lead, belaying:, So I call it shuffling if you’re belaying, like this People call it shuffling Now. You can do that with this [ATC-Pilot], but if you pull too much, it’s gonna seize up. The way that I, like belaying with this: your hand, is always on the brake rope, and then you can come up with your thumb.

Just follow the rope up and you’re kinda, taking it off the carabiner and throwing out rope for slack and then, as the climber passes, the bolt you bring it back in And, then they’re climbing, you’re, feeding out you’re taking it back in They, fall *boom* And. It’s really nice because you don’t have to remove your hand from the rope to do anything. You don’t have to do any funky holding of the rope in any weird way.

It’s super intuitive, especially if you’re used to a tuber So. This is available in January, $39 99 and then it also comes in a package with the Gridlock carabiner I. Think for $54 99 The mechanics of this. You know we didn’t invent We, didn’t claim to invent that The Single, Rope, Controller I think was the first commercial product on the market, The Wild, Country, Single, Rope, Controller, (SRC) From at least the early 90’s.

If not the late, 80’s And, there’s the Mammut Smart, the Click-Up, the Edelrid Mega Jul. There’s all these other devices out there And. This is just our take on it.

Black Diamond ATC XP, this belay device is durable, light and well worth the price. Its features include high friction teeth, reduce weight with hollow sights and sizing at sports, 7 7 to 11 millimeter rope. The teeth mentioned before make the rope run really smoothly. Lowering must be done with two hands always will slide too fast. This belay device is must-have for all sport, climbers.

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Rock-Climb and grandma here in this blade dices that you can use when you’re climbing these three weather think they looked as earrings, no darling, hi I’m, a rock climber. Do you, like my jewelry, if you’re interested in checking out more about these, please check the links below I’ll leave you a link for all three of these thanks for stopping by, and hopefully you find some value in this video and if you do, I hope that you’ll click the like button below and maybe even subscribe, and if you want to be notified of some future videos coming up just hit the belt.

Ok first thing I want to share with you is the Black Diamond ATC. This is something I’ve been using for quite a long time. It’s really beaten up. It’s mostly my outdoor thing. Traditionally I have used this for ballet, but recently I’ve changed over to something else which I’ll show you in a minute, though new one that I have I, don’t like for rappelling.

So this is my rappel device and it’s got two two tubes, so you can put two ropes in there. It’s also got this safety wire on it. It’s got lots of scratches and dents from when I’ve used. It I wrote some stuff down on this card -. These are my talking points and I wrote that I can’t see anything and this little guy weighs in at about 60 grams.

It will take a rope size that I believe is from 7 7 millimetres to 11 millimeters. Now, with any ATC that you’re using you’re going to be using a carabiner and, in my case I’m using the quick really simple to put on you, don’t have to worry about screwing on to make sure it’s locked. However, you do want to kick that gate every once in a while make sure that it is fully locked.

Alright, let me show you how to use this thing, so you want to take your rope and pop a Loup in there match it up to where your wire is and place it on your locking, carabiner and then a belay is just as simple as pulling out your slack making sure your right hand never leaves the rope and that’s a very simple way to the light. When you brake, of course, you’re gonna have two hands on the rope: there’s no extra serration in this belay device.

So it’s just tubes. There is a belay device, I’m going to show you next. It has a serration which aids in your braking system. If you want to use this, a rappel like I, do I put two ropes in match it to the wire and connect that to myself and now I have a little extra friction. I can also do a fireman’s belay if I am rappelling the next ATC.

That I want to show you chief. What’s that wait? This is what you get for, trying to film in erection. The next ATC that I want to show. You is the black diamond, TC XP. Now the nice thing about this? Is it’s got grooves in it, so the grooves actually assist in your breaking. This might be really good for beginners people just starting out, because it gives you that extra braking power.

It’s basically the same thing with two grooves. This guy comes in at 64 grams, and it can also take a seven point: seven millimeter up to eleven millimeter, climbing rope, weight, I’m sure I’m, trying to film at whoa. You can both play and rappel on this guy. In fact, rappelling might be a really good thing on this because of that extra braking power.

I know I feel a little safer with the extra serration because I’m so scared of rappelling, in fact I’m a much more afraid of rappelling than I am of climbing or even falling. So I think this is a good rappel device. This guy is also very easy to use just for a single rope when you’re belaying just pop that bad boy in there make sure that it meets the wire at the bottom pop it over your carabiner and you are ready to belay if you’re willing somebody that is heavier than you.

This is a really good thing to use. It gives you that extra braking power and, of course, if you need to use it as a rappel device, it’s just pop to your ropes in there attach it and again you have that extra braking power. It gives you a little more comfort when you’re coming down the side of a rock face. The last thing I wanted to show you is the black diamond pilot.

This guy is amazing. I am so excited about this and it made outdoor rock climbing a lot easier for me because it saves your hand. This device is I’ll. Show you in a second we’ll, actually almost lock into place similar to a gris-gris. Although this is not a gris-gris, so I wouldn’t treat it as a greevey I treat it as an ATC. However, the fact that it does lock into place gives your hands a little break when you’re outside neck cranked up to the sky.

It takes care of your hand, so when it’s your time to climb your hand, is ready for climbing look who stopped by do you want to be? Do you want to be on you with he’s he’s running away where’d? He go I, so the Black Diamond pilot comes in at 86 ounces. I wrote some stuff down on this card. It will take a rope from about eight point: seven millimeters to ten point: five millimeter.

Now the other difference between this and the other ATC’s is it’s a single groove, so you’re not going to be able to fit two ropes in there. Obviously, the other thing that is different is this: has a plastic design to it, which, when I first saw it I was a little worried about, but, like I said before, this is like one of my favorite things to use when I go climbing outside, so may.

Show you how this works. I, wonder if this is called a limp. First of all, you do place the rope in there the same way that you would the other two ATC’s. It’s also got a little place to put your finger or your thumb, depending upon what your belay style is. Just like the other ATC’s you just pop it on to your carabiner, like that, it’s really easy to slip.

Your carabiner, through the handle of this guy, just make sure that you’re going all the way through and all the way around your rope when you are connecting this thing and you believe the same way that you would any other device if your climber Falls, this is locked into place, I’m pulling on that, and it’s not going anywhere. Of course, I would always keep my hand on this side, even if I have a green, green and that’s just good practice.

So with that locked into place, all I have to do is keep my hand here. The pressure that’s put on my hand right now, I barely have to hold on, which is great. When it’s my turn to pull on some rocks, my hands, not gonna, be stressed out from belaying okay. So now your climber is ready to come down. Some people have gotten stuck with their climber on the wall at the top I.

Advise that if you have this belay device, you practice lowering before you get a climber on the rope. So basically there’s two ways to do. This. One way is to rock the APC back and that then releases the break and it allows the rope to go through. The other way is to put your thumb underneath the little lip when your thumb is underneath little lip you’re lifting the ATC off of your carabiner and allowing the rope to go through this way is really beneficial.

If you are leading now, I really do recommend that you practice this before you use it practice lowering before you lower and definitely practice leave before you leave, because this is a little bit different than a regular APC and it’s also a bit different than a gris-gris, and it’s better for you to have that practice before you have somebody on the other end of your rope, as I said before, I did leave links down below for you to check these out.

There’s links for each one and, of course, for my favorite highlight I. Hope you liked this video and, if you did, please don’t forget to like down below and if you’re interested in some more please subscribe, and if you’d like to know when the next one comes out with normally Sundays. Please hit the bell.

This is the Black Diamond ATC guide, blade of ice, and it won the guys Choice Award 2006, the ATC guide was predominantly tested by our rock guides. Those locations were basically in the Sierras North Cascades here in Washington State and as well as the Alps in Europe. Despite the ATC guide, beginning testing in 2006, it’s still used to date in our guide service equipment. Every blade of ice that goes out with our guides is an ATC guide, so it still stands up to the test of the years that we’ve been using it.

A few of the features that our guides liked in the ATC guide is the teeth which assists for blowing heavier climbers as well as catching people when they take big, falls the loop on the top of the device which allows you to hang the carabiner from an anchor station and bring up a second climber in Auto blocking mode. This mode allows the second climber to fall and the device to lock off automatically without any assistance from the Blair, and they also have made the device very durable.

So it stands up over years and years of use. We in fact, are still using some of the original ATC guides, since 2006 black diamonds actually lightened up the device by milling out the center and making it even lighter than the original device that we gave the award for. So even though black diamond cut out the middle of the device to make it lighter, it hasn’t really impacted any of the durability. All of the high wear areas are going to be. You know in the areas where the rope is actually gonna be running through the device or where the device is hanging from a carabiner.

So this lightning slot that’s in the device, actually has not really any high wear areas in it. So the strength of the device hasn’t been compromised and the durability device hasn’t been compromised. So, given that the ATC guide has these extra slots to add friction to your belay having to use gloves as a necessarily required, although gloves, wouldn’t be a bad idea when you’re actually lowering a climber in autoblock mode, the ATC guide is perfect match for an intermediate level.

Climber who’s, climbing multi-pitch routes, a novice or beginner climber- could use the device, but not use the auto blocking mode of the device to still be able to use it safely. The Black Diamond ATC guide would be a perfect match for any type of climate. That’s gonna be doing multi-pitch, sport or trad climbing. If you’re gonna be swinging pitches, the ATC guide is definitely the device you want to use. You.

My name is Phil the head of product management at Edelrid, and that is the new Giga Jul looks quite similar to the other belay devices in our range, and actually it is also working the same way. So we have an assisted braking mode. It helps you hold the fall because it will lock automatically you see, you would still have to have control of the braking hand or the braking rope, but it locks automatically.

But now comes the cool thing so, with the Mega Jul that we introduced a couple of years ago, there are a few drawbacks when you’re in an alpine environment and your climbing multi pitches, for example, to belay. Someone from the station is not always very nice in handling. For example, when you would repel you had the possibility to also reverse the device and repel in a tube mode, but then, for example, if you want to get closer to the belay, to remove your carabiner, for example, it would lock those were situations where a tube device would be just better in handling than these assisted braking devices, and so we thought about.

How can we somehow merge those two together, and we came up with this really cool principle here, which is that you have a slider in the middle and you can slide it up, and this way you have a tube mode, so you can change between assisted braking and a normal manual braking device and, as you can see, on the device, we have two braking geometries.

If I would just park this in the middle to see them better. You see here in the back. We have the tube geometry for braking, and here we have the assisted, braking mode and, depending on where my slider is I, can change between those we’re trying to get it below 100 grams. It is heavier than the Mega Jul, but I would still say from the versatility of this device.

There is no other device on the market that has this variety of options: how to use it and still have really small and lightweight devices. So the Giga Jul will be available from March 2019. It will weigh around 100 grams and it will retail at $49 95 US dollars and sixty five euros here. We have mostly aluminium, but the parts where you have the rope wear here in the braking geometries on both sides.

We have a steel insert, so we achieve the abrasion resistance of steel, but combine it with the lightweight of aluminum. So this one has more similar geometry to the Jul 2 then to the Mega Jul. So it works better, especially for a little bit thicker ropes. Then the Mega Jul, as I said there are some situations where the Mega Jul is not so comfortable in handling.

One situation, for example, would be if you arrive at a belay, and you want to belay your second with the Mega Jul. You would have to put it in like this and then on a normal tube. You would come with the ropes from this side and with the Mega Jul, you had to insert the ropes from this side from the other side, so that was that was already like something you have to get used to and then pulling in rope, especially like a little bit.

Thicker rope was also not super comfortable, sometimes especially when they were a little bit older in comparison with the Giga Jul, you would switch the Giga Jul to the tube mode or the manual mode, and then it works like a normal tuber. So basically, you can go with the ropes not from this side, but just like you would do with your other belay devices from the other side and would be able to be belay a second and because also we have now an aluminium plate here in the middle.

Where the guide hole is we can position it slightly different, so the device will hang much better than with the Mega Jul, which gives it a lot more advantages in the handling of the ropes. Another situation is then, when my second climber arrives, how do I belay him when he starts lead? Climbing I have basically two possibilities: I can belay him from the belay point here or I can switch over to my harness to belay him from my body.

If I decide, I want to belay him from my body. I can just get off the device get it on. My harness and then I have him in the tube mode in the manual braking mode yeah, and that’s the easiest and fastest way if I decide I’m gonna belay from my body, but I would like to have the additional safety of the assisted braking mode.

Then I would need to get off the rope switch onto the the assisted braking mode turn the device around put in the rope on my harness and now I can belay him like I I also do with the Mega Jul and I have the advantage that it will lock and help me break or help me hold a fall. I could also belay someone from the belay station.

This is, for example, has an advantage if there is a potential that, in case of a fall, I get yanked up and maybe lose control of the braking hand. So, in this case, for example, if I climb with a heavier person, I would recommend to belay from the belay point, and here I can also decide to belay someone in the assisted braking mode, but then giving out slack can be with handling sometimes difficult, because, of course it can block and I would have to release it.

Then, of course, I can also again flip it around. Have it in tube mode and then insert the rope and now I have really nice handling and in case of a fall I mean I, have the possibility to hold the fall in the last situation, or the third scenario is repelling here as well: I have the possibility, of course, to rappel in the assisted, braking mode and but I could also rappel in the tube mode, and that was again as well.

The case with the megajoule I was able to belay like this and I was able to flip the device around and have more of a tube function in rappelling, but the drawback here was, if I want to remove my carabiner now and I would like to get closer to the belay point. It would look sometimes, and it would be harder to do it with the Giga Jul in the tube mode.

I would usually back it up with the prusik, but then I can easily get close to the belay point. Unclip my carabiner and then start repelling again. I’d say the advantage of this device is, if you put the rope in the wrong way or, for example, don’t turn the device around. You always end up in a tube mode. So the worst thing that you get is still a tuber or like a manual braking mode.

Nothing really can happen where you say now: you’re going to lose any type of friction or control over the rope.

Hey guys I’m here with another blade of the past, the it’ll read megajoule, and so essentially this is a tubular device as two holes, so you can do bling repelling on it. It’s made by a company in Germany, it’ll, rid and I, really like what the company stands for, because they’re all about saving their environment and trying to make these devices to last. So something that’s a bit different than from this device, then from an ATC or many other belay devices on the market is instead of using an aluminum, alloy sort of blend.

This is made completely out of steel, which is why it’s so thin, especially in that little nook right. There is because the material is a lot stronger and it also lasts a lot longer. So, if you’re, using their ATC, for let’s say four or five days a year and a climbing season for at least six months, you’ll probably have to get a new ATC after that season. Whereas this will last you two or three and and that’s the big thing. A lot of it’ll ribs materials are built like that. Like they’re, quick drawers with that steel insert a lot of their carabiners, that steel insert and even some of their other carabiners, even like this one, which I used for nearly a half a season for my rappel bener, and it is barely any wear on it at all.

So I really appreciate their company and how they’re trying to make this stuff to last. The device itself actually has a lot of mixed reviews. It seems that, though, people either really love it or really hate it, and it’s kind of funny I’ve been using mine for about six or seven months now off and on multi pitching single pitch climbing. Just you know experimenting with it to try to get this. Video going and I do have some thoughts about it and I’ll sort of spill. Those in as I go with the video, but this this device tends to you know, have some following behind it and let me just launch into the review I’m gonna start with how you can load it on your harness for lead climber, how you can use it in bling from above and repelling and then give my final thoughts about it.

So here we go so here: I am with the device ready to go and I wanted to talk real fast about the carabiner to use with this gadget. So this is a non-mechanical brake assist device and what I mean by that is the wrong way. There we go. Is that um? The way how this actually cams up on the rope is the plate gets forced against the carabiner right here along that little groove, and so one is be careful about the care-bear. You use I’ve used a couple different carabiners with this, and they all seem to work, but um, maybe a bit of a thinner one will help get a tighter grip on the rope.

The carabiner I got right here is one I really don’t use too often it’s actually made by it’ll rid it’s a strike. Slider carabiner! You can see how the lock is right here. You open it up technically counts as a locking carabiner, but um I have a couple stories about these, which I’ll save for a different video as to why I don’t really use them too much, but it also has this little wire right here. There are a number of these carabiners on the market, just to keep the carabiner oriented on your belay loop to keep from cross loading, and it may be best, especially if you’re, using this for morally bullying or a single pitch stuff to have this carabiner, because one thing we do sort of want to avoid with other carabiners here, let me just pull a random one off.

My harness, like the magnetron, is flipping around. If the carabiner does flip around which it will do while bowling and it may affect the pinching on the rope or the you know, the camming brake assist action depending on the carabiner you use, especially if this point is really is really pointy that can affect the pinching on the rope. So that is something to watch out for that’s. Why I’m going to use this specific, carabiner, all right cool, so the way the rope goes into it is.

If you look at the device, they actually helps you out with pictures right here, I think yeah, here’s the one for belaying the lead climber. Basically, you want this green loop to be where your thumb is the thumb your thumb up, do the break, and so by clipping it on and then here’s my rope, I’ll thread it through, like I normally would through the plate, then take the carabiner and lock that one. So that way, both the the keeper strap and the rope are in the carabiner and what I’m going to do this easier to see? Here’s my climber strand going up and then here’s my break strand.

Here’s my break hand on the Strand and then what you do is you hook your thumb in the little green loop and then you hold the plate off of the carabiner and that allows you to thread out rope real easily, taking in rope also very easy, as long as the device is hovering above the carabiner. If the climber were to fall, you see how that forces the plate up against the carabiner and that’s what in axe or that’s. What creates that brake assist feature in fact, here, I’ll just hold onto the climber strand, and you can see how how effective that brake assist is because I don’t have any brake handle on the rope or anything.

You can see how it is holding my weight that I’m putting into it. This is actually one of the better brake assists for this type of non-mechanical device. I’ve seen with the different devices I’ve used, so a cool thing about what it’ll ridden says and I got this from an actual littler drip is when you’re, paying out slack, really pull a little bit more rope through when you’re paying out slack. Just keep your thumb in the loop. Keep your four fingers right here on the brake string.

You just keep on paying out slack and another cool thing is, if I flip over, if the climber Falls, while your thumb is holding this up, is it supposed to actually force still go into the locking position which is kind of nice compared to other types of devices like these on the market, but other than that? You just keep on playing the exact same I personally have found that when a climber has fallen and I’m holding this or like they just want to lower after they’ve fallen, it is a bit annoying to try to pull this out when you want to lower a climber.

All you do is take the thumb, loop and push it away from you and that all you want is the separation of the plate between the carabiner, and so once you achieve that. That’s when the lowering starts happening, but personally I do think it’s a little hard to engage that, especially if the climber is heavier than you and it’s a decent-size ball. So one thing I end up doing is I have to put both hands like this or, if I have my brake hand on the thumb. I’ll put my other thumb in the same hole and then pull it out, and that’s just something that you sort of have to feel for yourself other than that.

Lowering a climber is just the same. All you do is pull this out and then the Rope will start sliding through again with your first time, taking nice and slow. So that way you can feel what’s happening with the device. So here you can see, I went ahead and I just stuck a bit of weight on my anchor right here. So that way you could see the device when it’s fully locked up and I have my brake and on my thumb’s in the loop when I want to lower a climber I just pull this out and the Rope starts sliding through there you go and then again it just takes a little bit of practice in order to get that whole system smooth, and it is a lot easier with a backpack than an actual person all right.

So now, let’s talk about setting us up belay from above style. I have my megajoule right here and I actually switched up a carabiner from the last one to a different one, without that little gate right there, because I think that’s kind annoying in this application either way. Here’s my other carabiner that it’s going to connect the device to the anchor here’s. The megajoule this ring right here is the same ring that you’ll hang the device off of. While you thread your rope through and now this can be where it gets a little confusing the picture may focus or it may not.

You can always go on to it already website to see this, but this picture shows you how you’re supposed to load this device when you’re blamed from above and I’m gonna show you that in a little bit right there, but that it helps out with the guide when I first use this, like the first ten times or whatever I had to look at that guide a lot but either way so I clipped the device to the anchor through that ring. And now let me show you how to load the rope into it. So here’s my climbers end give it a little bit of space and instead of going from the top like we did when we were elite blowing, we’re actually gonna go from underneath push the rope up and grab your locker and then there you have it yes see how that is, and so you can always test by taking the climbers in giving it a tug.

And if you can’t pull the rope through then you’re good to go and you can pull on the Blair’s and to see if the robot you does slide through. So that’s how Helen the instructions on top they show you to set it up. I mean like right here, but I was actually talking to a representative that the Idul rid and recently they’ve changed this and the reason. Why is when the climber sits? You can see how the ropes are well. This is also really thin rope I’m using but I’m using it to demonstrate how there’s that possibility of the same possibility with the gg for these ropes to actually flip there you go.

It’s actually really easy for me to do that, and now the climbers end is not actually breaking so the way how you get around that problem is again. Here’s my climbers end right here: I’m gonna, pass it up through the device and I’m going to bring the rope down, and this can get a little tricky. This takes some practice. Let’s see, if I can do it flip all these mmm almost lost it. There clip all these and then that first string of the loop and you got to rotate the carabiner so that way the gates, not on the braking side.

There you have it so you’ll notice that, just like the Gigi, the carabiner is wrapped all throughout the belay device. Yeah there you go and now I can pull on the climbers end and rope slides through alright sorry I can pull on the brake side for up slides through just fine, but the climbers end it locks up and because of that, carabiner being attached to the system like this there’s no risk of the rope flipping and and that’s the idea it does take a little bit of practice. I’ll try to shoot it from another angle, so that way, you guys can see see that again because it it’s a little confusing at the start.

But if you just practice with it, you’ll get better and you’ll sort of see what I’m saying now, just like the GG. If you want to set up your megajoule with twin ropes, then you don’t need to have the carabiner threaded throughout the device like that, because the twin ropes by having the two ropes, it’s not gonna twist on you, so that is a little bit of a nice part about twin ropes, I find personally at the amount of pole when the carabiner setup, like this versus the other method, see if I can just quickly do that.

The friction is about the same so me personally, just to be in the realm of good habits. I tend to always set up my the megajoule or even the GG I always set it up like this, just for good habits and being fresh and the mind-bending trick of trying to set that whole rope system up. But that’s how you do it with twin ropes. So now, let’s talk about rappelling with the megajoule, there’s actually two different ways: you can do it one with the brake assist and the other without which is a very nice feature to have to set it up with the brake assist.

You have your two ropes just like so take the loop and it does help to have it clipped to you, but just so that way, you guys can actually see it and then thread it in the same way as you would for a lead bilang onto your belay loop and then now you have the brake assist feature. If I can there, we have it so, depending on your rope, you will have some slippage this one’s really thin. So I got a little bit of slippage here, but as long as you just hold on the brake strand like you’re supposed to do, that’s not really a problem, but you still have a help with brake assist and in order to lower yourself, you just grab the thumb and pull out and down you go.

Some people prefer to rappel with the brake assist. I personally don’t because I find it just gets in the way, especially since I like to do a rappel tether with an extension when I rappel, so I don’t tend to do brake assist and then so what you do is, instead of loading it with your brake hand, again we’re gonna thumb is just flip. The whole thing around it’s actually very simple and very ingenious. I got to hand it to them thread it through same thing: two holes flip the Locker in right there and now slides, just nice, no added brake assist feature or anything like that.

So that’s a very nice feature me since I, like doing extended, repels with a third hand already the extra brake assist is unneeded, and so I can just flip it over and then act like a normal tubular and belay device to get off the wall, which is a really nice feature. So final thoughts on the Edward megajoule I think it’s actually a pretty good device. I think it’s nice to have in your quiver, for whatever you need, whatever you feel like, you need it for me personally, I, don’t think I would use it too much single pitch climbing, especially not where I’m playing someone I think is gonna fall a whole lot, mainly because it is actually really annoying after they’ve fallen and the the device is tied on a carabiner to pull it out and maintain a steady, lower, I feel like it.

It just sort of grips the Rope a little tight and if maybe they sat down on the rope like they took and then lowering them down, it would be a bit nicer and easier, but after they’ve fallen. Lowering is someone it’s kind of annoying on this device. Multi-Pitch climbing I actually bring this out multi-pitch climbing a lot, but only when I’m using twin ropes and that’s either for playing my friend, you know lead bilang them in order to have the brake assist, which is kind of nice on twin ropes or maybe not so much bling them from above, because a lot of times I’ll have my ATC with me and I’ll.

Just use that, because it’s a little bit easier to deal with as well as it’s a little less friction pulling through, but bling Liebling with twin ropes. This is probably my go-to device, because it is a lot less work than you know. Two arm lengths with the ATC versus just the one with this device and so I feel like that’s. What I would do is multi bit climbing with twin ropes. This is gonna, be on me. It could very well be the only device. I bring that’d, be fine, but I’ll probably also have an ATC with me.

While I do this, it’s also very nice for guides, because this, since you can have your thumb, holding it up and it’ll still lock up. If, if the climber Falls, if you the climber Falls, you can give this to a very inexperienced player like a client of yours that you maybe just taught to play earlier that day or earlier that week and you can feel pretty secure if you were to fall on this device, especially with how much the pinching action works in the assistive braking action works, especially on slightly thicker ropes.

The ropes are using the demonstrators, seven point, eight, so they’re both half ropes. So if you have like a nine mil or nine point, two or nine point six which I use for guiding in this thing, then it’s gonna pinch pretty hard. Even if the client didn’t really understand what was going on in the event of a fall. So this is a really good device to have all guiding and that’s the reason why I always have this. Actually in my backpack in the very bottom, while I’m out working is if I, if I, have a nun sore on not untrustworthy, but just a less experienced client I can give them this device and feel a bit more secure than what I’m doing, but other than that I think it is a very nice device.

I think it’s maybe more of a secondary device so again learn on a non assistant, breaking tubular device like the pencil reverse or the Black Diamond ATC, and probably hold one of those for whatever you need. And this would. This would be like the device to learn how to play on because of all the extra functions and features and how it’s high-tech and more difficult to deal with at times so I I feel like it would be good device for an experienced climber or even just you know, a smaller amount of experience.

But you Nia has some experience that deal with the extra bells and whistles on this device, even though it looks very simple, just being a small piece of metal but dealing with it. The right way you do want to have some experience, pulling I wouldn’t give this to a person I’m teaching how to belay unless they’re I’m, just working with them for a day or so in that guiding sense. But if I’m teaching someone to blame for you know for their entire life, I’m gonna give them something a little bit different to start off with either way.

That’s my final thoughts again. I think this is definitely worth having, especially as like a backup device or anything like that, but I just it has a few more complexities to it. But but there you have it. That’s the it’ll rid megajoule.

Today, we’re taking a look at the new megajoule from L R it it’s lightweight. It’s constructed play device that functions from a rope of seven-point eight millimeter to ten point. Five, the lightweight steel construction allows for a rapid heat dissipation. It has either single or double or half ropes. Whatever you happen to be using, it takes the diameter from seven point, eight millimeter to ten point. Five, and now let’s go ahead and take a closer look at all of its in detail, features first off we’re just going to take a look at a standard.

Single rope lead delay situation, as you can see. There’s this groove here in the device that will match up with the this is critical in the locking motion right now, I have my thumb through the release lever pulled out which allows for quick and effortless feeding of the rope to your climber or if you’re rappelling, you can unlock your rappel device and, as you can see here, I’ll demonstrate the locking of the device so go ahead and fall climber, as you notice here completely locks now. Could it be hands-free? You always want to keep your hand on the brake line anyway, but the point is is that it is now locked and then, in order for when my partner’s ready to climb again, you just lift up on the lever and you’re good to go effortlessly one more time go ahead and have my climber fall one more time lately locked.

Of course, the fall would be a little bit more dramatic and showing this he’s just pulling on the river but yeah. One more time now we’re demonstrating the lowering of your wiener after they’ve arrived at the anchor. So once my leaders made it to the anchor he’s going to weight the rope which will lock it, as you can see here and I, have my hands on the release lever and what I’m going to go ahead and do is just slowly start to relieve the pressure and it will just slowly begin to lower my partner.

This is similar to any of the devices on the market. You just adjust the pressure to, however fast you wanna, lower your partner, always maintaining your hand on the brake I’m going to show you another method for lowering your partner. There’s two methods: I just showed you the first in this method, my partners again just made it to the anchor the device locks off as he waits the road in this method. Previously I had my thumb here and apply pressure upward like this. However, you can also do it like this, which to some people is better, but you just pull up like this now also release to a desired.

You can put two fingers in here if you need to desire the our fashion, while lowering partner now here I’m going to demonstrate the repeal functions of the editor in mega Joule. So this you saw earlier in the video has an auto locking feature so right now, I have it in the auto lock function, so I can go hands-free again recommend you should always have your hand on the brake line, but you could an emergency if you need to do something, this will completely hold you and once again, here’s the release lever.

So, as you can see, this is my full body weight and in an overhang. So this is about as much force as I would ever apply, and it’s effortless to release it. Now, if you wanted to, you could flip this around, which will show you here in a minute and have it just as a regular, ATC, repel device, I personally like to repel with the security of the auto locking just in case I, need to do something or if I lose control the rope um or if you need to ascend back up. You know it’s nice and easy because it just locks nice I’m, going to go ahead and show you it’s not in the auto locking mode, but it’s just in the freehand regular Maya physical force is what’s locking it off now, I.

Have it in kind of your more standard, non-locking mode, that’s similar to many of the devices out on the market today in this function, since I, don’t have it in the auto. Locking mode should use a prusik to back it up. Of course, that’s the beauty of having it in the other mode, so you wouldn’t need a prusik in this function. Basically just functioning in a standard manner, I have my hand on the brake hand and lower myself. Here we have the mega Joule and guys set up with just demonstrational, acre, obviously with only one sling.

So basically the mega, Joule and guide mode is set up where this ring right here. Locker in this locker takes place of this provider. Your believe, it’s gonna be responsible for applying pressure to the second balls autolog, which is nice to make first, a quick, whatever run longer to organizing something you can do a weighted either. Eight full on this Manor. The best way take locker anything put it right through the nose lower them back. This gives you more leverage, you know. Do it the classic way by just pulling on this -? For some reason, they’re heavier have to go in through all the features now I’m just going to give a quick summation on the device.

Well, I think it’s so great as you’ve already seen it’s extremely versatile, but amongst its best qualities, is the peace of mind that you’re going to get from this, as you would get from any auto locking device. But you can take this one into the Alpine with you. You can take any place that you would use more of a traditional device that you need to repel with anything like that, the peace of mind being that especially an Alpine or anywhere. If your partner gets knocked out or something you can pass to see, if a hands-free, just it’s always going to catch my partner, so I feel better climbing my partner has this certainly do, and previously the only devices that we do.

This, for me would be the heavy booking, auto locking or belay devices, and this is super light you can rappel with it. So far, it’s new on the market and I’ve been using it an alt rain ice mixed Alpine, trad sport and has passed all my personal tests and I love it. It’s extremely versatile, lightweight spray is an extra backup blade of ice on big wall, climbing or longer routes, because it weighs 65 grams, which you can’t beat that happy. Climbing.

Hello, my name is Moritz Today, we’re going to take a closer look at the Jul2 The Jul2 is an “auto-tuber” made out of stainless steel. That is perfectly suitable for sport. Climbing top-roping, single pitch climbing in general and also gym use It can work with rope from 8 9 up to 11 millimeters Therefore. If you have a fuzzy 10mm rope, it will work smoothly and will be an enjoyable experience to climb with It works in similar ways as the Mega Jul, meaning that there are no movable parts and it’s purely based on its geometry.

What’s happening here is that the dangling rope tilts the device and the carabiner locks into this groove, therefore creating a passage that is too narrow for the rope to pass through and locking it off. To get lowered, I just put my thumb in here and can lower him really smoothly due to the increased sweet spot that I have because of the bigger lever and the good leverage It definitively adds extra level of safety to the whole belay system.

For demonstration purposes, I took my hands off the brake line. Never do that in real life. You should always have a hand on the brake rope, If you’re, trying to lower someone with a lever and things aren’t as smooth as you expect them to be. There is one trick I’d like to show you – which also works for the Mega Jul.

By the way – so you put your thumb on the back point the finger through here and you gradually tilt the device, and then you can lower really smoothly and easily And. This might be especially interesting if there is a big weight difference between climber and belayer. The device is made out of stainless steel.

Therefore it won’t wear out; you’ll only have to buy it. Once; you’ll never have to replace it because of wear Yet. The carabiner will wear out since it’s aluminum and the rope runs over it and after excessive lowering and whatnot you get this big groove there and every half year, you’ll have to replace a carabiner, which is why I am actually using a steel carabiner here.

You might think: “I am not going to use a steel carabiner it’s super heavy” – in my world, I think: “It doesn’t make a big difference if I carry an ounce more or less to the gym. ” The strike screw weighs in around 70 grams The steel carabiner weighs in around 110 grams 120 grams, so it’s not that much of a difference.

And this carabiner won’t, wear out so I can highly recommend to belay off a steel carabiner. Even if it’s something you haven’t thought about. Yet We already showed the Jul2 at the last show. If you remember it had a plastic coating all around and the functionality was a little bit different, The version we showed last year – which never made into production – didn’t lock off the rope completely;.

The idea was, there is still some slippage involved. Our philosophy now is, and will be, for the future to only have fully locking tubers only auto-tubers No, more Kilo Jul, no more Jul only Jul2 and Mega Jul;, and both of those lock off completely.